It’s nearly June and the new books are bustin’ out all over. Summer kicks off with the requisite beach reads, but the month also seems some gems coming from classic fantasy and mystery authors, as well as some solid releases from buzz worthy literary names. On to the selections:
-There are very few coauthors who could find their name above James Patterson’s, but when your fellow scribe is a former POTUS, even the world record holder for New York Times bestsellers knows to give way. The prolific Patterson teams up with Bill Clinton on The President Is Missing, a thriller centered on, no surprise, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and a missing president. It hits shelves June 4.
-A few literary novels of note make their appearance this month. Rachel Cusk wraps up her Outline trilogy with Kudos, a fitting end to the acclaimed series, a sometimes dark reflection on human nature and personal relationships. Notable debut Tommy Orange releases There There, a multigenerational story focusing on the experiences of Native Americans gathered at the Oakland Coliseum for a powwow. Orange created a stir earlier this year when his short story, “The State,” was published in The New Yorker; the story was drawn from There There. Lauren Groff, whose Fates and Furies was one of 2015’s most talked about novels (and a fav of President Obama), returns with a short story collection Florida, hitting shelves June 5. Kirkus Reviews bestowed a starred review on the collection, calling it “A literary tour de force of precariousness set in a blistering place, a state shaped like a gun.”
-Some very strong entries in genre fiction appear on shelves this month. Fantasy addicts can look forward to releases from favorites Jacqueline Carey (Starless) and Jim Butcher (Brief Cases), both appearing early in the month. Fans of suspense will see another installment in Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series (Island of the Mad) and Mark Billingham’s Tom Thorne thrillers (The Killing Habit). Anthony Horowitz, whose Magpie Murders was a puzzle box for British mystery buffs last summer, will again trick readers with The Word Is Murder, out June 5. Romantics and fans of The Rosie Project will definitely want to check out The Kiss Quotient, featuring a tech wizard who hires an escort to teach her the ropes of relationships, but finds out that love is anything but logical.
For even more summer goodness, click on through for more titles. Happy reading!